branding you better

Tips on Building the Most Effective Website for Your Business

November 23rd, 2011 | Posted in art, Blog, marketing | 3 Comments
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This an excerpt from my collaborative Teleclass series with Andrea Rosenfeld,
Broadcast Louder – Class #4 – Blogs, Websites, CMS and E-commerce, Oh My! Which is Right For Your Biz?

Clients and designer interaction about website design

Before you even think about creating a blog or website, have you developed your brand identity? Because the look and feel of your website has to incorporate your branding, picking up the fonts, colors and style. You can’t present your creative work or create a site to offer your products and services that doesn’t build upon your brand.

Designers, Programmers and SEO Technicians

Some business owners are extremely savvy and search in Google for a website designer and for other sites that they admire to get ideas of what they want and don’t want.  Others may ask a friend to recommend someone or even post a query in community sites and social media. But how do you know if the person you’re selecting is the right person for you? This of course is why web site designers have online portfolios and samples to look at. However, just because they have an extensive portfolio and offer beautiful and creative work, doesn’t mean they are skilled, technically and they MAY not be able to build you a site that can “do” everything you desire or know how to get you great SEO (search engine optimization) to give your website increased ROI (return on investment).

Let’s begin by distinguishing the BIG difference between a website designer and a web technical programmer

Just like a jewelry designers and carpenters are quite different, so are designers and programmers. Of course there are those who can do both, but they will typically be stronger in one area or the other. There are two very different parts to a website, the designing and the building.

The issue of designer vs programmer is confusing because programmers can call themselves designers and vice versa. I will say this. When you visit a designer’s website, most times, you should be able to tell if they are more of a creative or more of a technical programmer, just from the look of THEIR own website. It also helps to click on the sample sites within their portfolio and read through their website, so you are crystal clear about their qualifications.

Different CMSs and why they are Great

Today a website shouldn’t really be built without using a content management system.Why? Because most individuals and companies want access to their own website once it’s built, so they can maintain the content themselves, add new pages and change products when THEY want to, not have to wait for their web designer or pay extra for maintenance.

How do you decide which CMS to use?

I have built websites using WordPress, Concrete5, Joomla, Drupal and more… Some sites are even a combination of a few CMS’s. For example, I recently worked on a combination of Drupal and WordPress, while in another project I used, WordPress, aMember and aWeber. Basically, what you need to know is that the plan and functionality drive a site and each CMS can manipulate the site’s functionality, therefore one may be better than another depending upon your needs. The designer will recommend which CMS to use for your particular site, but because you are in the planning stage, get to know the difference platforms and their functionality, to determine which might be best for you.

Each business has a different set of goals and so their site is structured and designed in a different way.  Some creative businesses want to show off their amazing artwork, while others want to sell products. Some have a mission and are looking for a following, so their opt-in is the focus or directing people to sign a petition. In each case, the site must be designed and structured to meet those goals.

Susan’s Top Tips!

1- Title tags, descriptions and keywords for every page and post.  Each page and post you create must have a page title that is relevant to the content, a short description and keywords that are relevant to the page or article content.

2- Update your website often so fans know you are busy and working, otherwise they may think you’ve gone out of business!

3- Social media connect buttons easily displayed and share buttons underneath your posts and pages so that your visitors can share your content with others. This is VERY important because you want your content spread around the internet to increase your visibility.

4- All your images within galleries or within your site’s pages should be named and sized properly and be in the right format! RGB, not CMYK and either jpg, gif or png. Don’t upload images with numbered names or that are 4-5 MB in size, the web can’t handle it and no one’s waiting around for the image to load.

5- If you haven’t yet stepped in front of the video camera, get moving… YouTube is listed at #2 of the most searched websites! An don’t forget to name your video with titles, and tags also!

Branding & Website Design is One of a Kind Art Too

November 10th, 2011 | Posted in art, Blog, marketing | 3 Comments
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Color palette selections - creating artOn tuesday evening Andrea Rosenfeld and I had our second Broadcast Louder class with our guest, Mark T. Smith. The topic of discussion was “one of a kind vs limited edition products.”

As we talked about fine artists and other creatives at different stages in their careers and the types of work they want to do, I realized that much of the work I create is one of a kind too. When I develop the branding, graphics and website design for a new start-up or entrepreneur, it’s original and created for them alone. I do not believe in reproducing templates. I consider my work art the same way another artist would.

Now there may be many business people or Solopreneurs out there who think, graphic or website design is just moving things around on a page, or anyone with the Adobe Suite of products can create the branding, a brochure or logo. That anyone who installs WordPress or has Dreamweaver can design web pages.

Well they might be able to create them, it doesn’t make it art.

First, they haven’t been properly trained on all aspects of art, from art history, to drawing, painting, to techniques, color palettes, typefaces and more. Creating art isn’t something out of a box or software program, it begins in the mind of the artist. We visualize in our minds what we want to do and then the computer is just a tool to help us.

I have had my business for almost 18 years now and before that I was an art director / designer in the book publishing industry. I have always considered myself a craftsperson. I am also a bit of a perfectionist working on things until they are just so, or the client doesn’t see them. Also, I’m confident enough in my own experience and craft that when a client asks to see something, if I feel it won’t work, I won’t do it. They should trust me and my expertise, isn’t that why they came to me in the first place?

Because the web is changing constantly, I have to check the links on my portfolio page often and sometimes I see a website I didn’t design. The link is removed immediately from my site. It used to bother me, the realization that that site is gone, the creation lost, but I know that the web is a living thing as it should be, changing and evolving as each company grows and changes.

After all, many of my clients come to me to change their sites, so it’s happening to another artist.

 

 

 

Brand Video Interview – Rick Clemons, The Coming Out Coach

October 24th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, Brand-Interviews | Comments Off
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Brand Video Interview – Rick Clemons, The Coming Out Coach

Rick Clemons - The Coming Out Coach

How long has your company been in business? Please tell us a bit about your company, its mission, goals…
The brand is “Rick Clemons” and “The Coming Out Coach” and most people immediately think it’s about gay and lesbian people coming out of the closet, and although that’s part of it, it’s to help anyone come out of the closet and step into their truth. Rick is also working with strong powerful women and feels that gay men and straight women have much to talk about. Some of the brands he has launched are, “Gay Men of Marvel”, “Women of Wonder”, “The Art of Coming Out”, “Mistah to Sistah Coffee Chat” and coming soon is the “Coming Out Lounge” which will launch in a few weeks and create a safe place.


 

Do you donate and support charities? Tell us about that also and why.
Rick supports and donates to Gay and Lesbian Centers, Human Rights Campaign, Family Equality Council, Operations Safe House. He also donates his time to local teen homes and women’s groups. He has seen the bullying issue come up in his coaching practice but also believes that if people aren’t allowing themselves to come out and be true, then the bullying starts within one’s self. Living in California, he feels that the lifestyle there is more open, but when he sees this issue around in other places, he wishes people would accept one another as they are.


 

How did you know what typeface (font) would be right for your company wordmark or logo?  How did you decide on the right color palette to fit your company look and feel? Did you design your own identity and web presence?
Rick’s background is in marketing and branding. He was a VP in marketing for the software and hotel industry. His passion is to be creative and so he trained himself in graphic design software through a 30 day bootcamp intensive. He likes simple and clean, chic and hip styling and plays with shapes. He thinks about his audience and wants the identity and messaging to get down to the core.

Rick Clemons, The Coming Out Coach logo

His last corporate job was developing an online reservation system for the campground RV park and recreation industry. He learned about different CMS (content management systems) and liked Joomla. RickClemons.com is his 20th website using the Joomla CMS platform.


 

In what order did you present your company to the world? Did you start with marketing and products, or website, blog and social media?
Rick has always been dabbling in social media and felt it was the perfect lead up to the launch of his business while building the content on the website.  He would post on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. In the latest rebirth he leveraged social media with consistency.

Coming Out Lounge - Rick Clemons
 

Print Marketing vs Social Media
So far he has printed business cards, and feels that social media has been the perfect marketing tool for his coaching business by building relationships.  When he launched his last business it was tougher, but today he’s able to connect and social media is in full swing. He uses Facebook the most, with Twitter a close second, but LinkedIn, not as much. With his marketing consulting business LinkedIn is better for that, but for the coaching business, Facebook and Twitter are much better. He does now realize that because part of his coaching is working with powerful women, he may revisit LinkedIn because of the groups section there.


 

Did you do research or study any software, take webinars, teleclasses, before approaching any area of your marketing or web presence?
Rick has always been a life long learner. As he mentioned before he self-taught himself Joomla. He loves taking classes because even though he knows quite a bit, he feels sometimes we need a breath of fresh air, or we need to get out of our own way.


 

Do you advertise offline in print or online using Google, Facebook or on other company sites? Are they effective?
Rick does not currently advertise in newspapers or magazines but has tried online ads. He feels that advertising can be effective but it will always depend on the copy, imagery and offer. It also matters whether you are selling a product or offering a service and that the ad messaging and imaging be right.


 

Have you ever used “green” technology in printing, using FSC certified papers or recycled paper and if not, how likely are you at trying this on a next project?
Many people still hire Rick for design and marketing services and because he is a heart-centered man, green technology is important to him and he will always recommend it to his clients. He educates his clients that even if it’s going to cost a bit more, it’s important the impact they can make on helping the planet. A business owner must be in alignment, making sure that if they are running a “green” business, that there print marketing matches. Businesses don’t want to be caught not practicing what they preach.


 
Mistah to Sistah Coffee Chat
 

Is there anything you haven’t yet tackled, but will want to do soon?
The list never ends!
He wants to explore having his own TV and Radio channels. He was a speaker at WooHoo Weekend in Los Angeles on October 15, 2011 and wants to grow and be comfortable as a speaker, taking the steps of growth until he’s ready.  Go, Rick, Go!


 

To learn more about Rick Clemons, The Coming Out Coach, visit the links below:

Email: rick@rickclemons.com
Book An Appointment: http://www.lifeincognito.clickbook.net
Website: http://www.rickclemons.com
Blog: http://www.rickclemons.com/TruthTalks/
Facebook:
  http://www.facebook.com/LifeIncognito
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/gayincognito

 

Broadcast Louder: 2 Savvy Business Women on a Mission to Help Artists and Other Creatives

October 23rd, 2011 | Posted in art, Blog, marketing | Comments Off
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TURN UP THE VOLUME ON YOUR ART BRAND!

Are you ready to LEARN what you need to build YOUR business as successfully as you create your Art?
Andrea Rosenfeld (Open Studio Coach) and Susan Newman (Susan Newman Design Inc) have teamed up!

BROADCAST LOUDER IS HAVING A CONTEST!

Win the whole 8 class teleseminar series! Enter by 10/31/11!!!

 

We’ve been friends and colleagues for years, working with each other and bouncing ideas off of one another. We realized that together, we are a powerhouse of resources and experience and have an incredible amount of information to share with other Creatives in business.

We’ve launched Broadcast Louder because you are a spectacular artist and your work deserves to be seen, heard, purchased and enjoyed!

Broadcast Louder will teach you in our 8-week teleseminar series,
Creativity + Abundance 1.0

Class 1 – Go BEYOND the Logo – Understanding Exactly What “Branding” Is
(Guest Expert – Todd Radom, Todd Radom Design)
Class 2 – One-of-a-kind vs Limited Edition Art Products
(Guest Expert – Mark T. Smith, Professional Fine Artist)
Class 3 – Costing Challenges for Your Products – Why It’s More Than Just Math?
(Guest Expert – Julie Steelman, Effortless Affluence)
Class 4 – Blogs, Websites, CMS and E-commerce, Oh My! Which Is Right for Your Biz?
(Guest Expert – Gina Nieves, Marknet Group)
Class 5 – Social Media, Online and Offline Visibility or Mind Your Manners on the Internet!
(Guest Expert – Ted Rubin, CollectiveBias)
Class 6 – Time Management is Doable but Different for Everyone
(Guest Expert – Payson Cooper, Transformational Jewelry and Easy Marketing Secrets)
Class 7 – Reach a Wider (yet targeted) Audience by Repurposing your Creative Content Across the Web
(2 Guest Experts – Denise Wakeman, founder of The Blog Squad and Stephanie Vozza, Author)
Class 8 – Public Relations – Expose Yourself (legally)
(Guest Expert – Robyn Hatcher, SpeakEtc)

Listen in to our first FREE Class that aired on October 11th, 2011 with Special Guest Expert, Debbie Ingle, First Class Female Society.

Our mission
To bring together creatives from all industries, to give them a voice, allow them to share their wisdom and experiences and learn from each other. To build a network of professional artists that will educate and allow them to reach their business and artistic goals.

Why you need Broadcast Louder
There are other programs that help grow businesses but they don’t speak directly to the creative community like we will.

As professional artists, who are also savvy business owners, we speak your language and understand what you need for your creative business. We will be providing you with content and you are going to be able to interact with us, network with other artists through our private group and ask us questions that everyone in the class can benefit from.

Now that you understand that we’re here to help artists build their businesses, we want to explain why we’ve created Broadcast Louder and go over some of the benefits it will bring to you.

Every business built around creativity needs a brand that’s in alignment, to help keep their unique business memorable and in people’s minds. We are not speaking about a logo, per se. A brand is more than that. It’s about building trust and communicating your message successfully, so that potential clients understand you and your mission.

We are going to teach you the best marketing practices that will expand your visibility and propel your creative business to gain a larger targeted audience and new sales opportunities.

You have specific business goals and a unique product but you’re not sure what steps to take next to grow in the direction that’s right for you. Broadcast Louder is here to guide you through this process.

So Turn Up the Volume on Your Art Brand!
 

YOUR Branding Success Story! I’m Featuring YOU!

September 14th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, marketing | Comments Off
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The “Branding YOU Better” Brand Interview Series

Why is branding so important and why do I talk about it 24/7?

Without a unique and strong brand identity along with sincere messaging, how do you expect customers to “get you” and then do business with you? A successful brand is one that you can easily picture in your mind. You get a feeling and sense about that company as well as are able to imagine their logo and design look, color palette, immediately in your mind. If I said “Apple,” I’m sure you could describe their brand in great detail, not just their logo and color palette and the way their online presence looks, but their clever tv advertising, computers, iphones, ipods, and more…

A few months back I started a brand interview series, and to date have published 28 interviews. I enjoy reading each and every one, (as do others) including how they developed their brand, in what order, who they engaged to help them, whether they studied through webinars, what charities they support, and if they use “green” printing technology. The response has been wonderful. The readership of this blog has quintupled and continues to grow with each new one published and as a bonus, the bounce rate dropped to 1%, proving that content is indeed king, and people love reading other people’s stories.

If you would like to be featured, just download the pdf, fill it out fully, and email it back to me along with your online links, photograph of yourself (approximately 3″ x 5″) and any products, graphics, logos, screenshots, and video, you’d like included. If you would prefer a Skype interview, contact me and we’ll schedule it.

To see the other interviews, visit Brand Interviews.

Just a few of the Brand Interviews so far!

brand interview collage

Heavy Loaded Web Content: Stop the web pages that are too long and oh so slow

July 30th, 2011 | Posted in Blog, marketing | Comments Off
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On the web there are all sorts of content driven sites… blogs, company web sites, informational data entries and the long, video, audio, picture loaded sales pages. Let me say right now in a world where we want everything right now, if your page doesn’t load within 30 seconds, not only am I gone, but I’m now mad, because you have wasted my valuable time.

We all want to get to the point and be quick about it.

I just clicked on a link from what I thought was a reliable source and was hit with an ever loading, truly long, video polluted page. Give me a break! If you think I’m sticking around for the 6th or 10th video to load, you are mistaken.

As a web designer, I am all about fast loading, smartly tagged, keyword rich content. In other words, seo friendly, seo rich, low resolution imagery and video. I find it sad when people want so much to be heard,  will just put any old thing up there and just don’t understand how to present themselves the right way. I’m not talking about design right now, which is a whole other issue. If I could raise a magic wand and make all the sites and pages perfect… I would, but since I don’t yet have those powers, I’ll do it one client at a time.

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